Earlier this month, a report titled Racial Inequity in Alachua County was introduced to the community. This report was sponsored by Alachua County, Alachua County Public Schools, City of Gainesville, Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce, Santa Fe College, UF Health, and UF – a group donned the “Friendship 7.”

The project, called “Understanding Racial Inequity in Alachua County,” looks at numerous dimensions, comparing data for non-Hispanic whites, African Americans, Asians and Hispanics, in economic well-being, education, family structure, child welfare, involvement in juvenile and adult justice systems, health status, housing and transportation. Among the study’s findings, the most significant disparities were found in African American communities, which account for 20 percent of Gainesville’s population yet had the highest levels of poverty, arrests and school suspensions. Unemployment for African Americans in Alachua County was also significantly larger than other ethnic groups, with a rate of two-and-a-half times that of whites.

Hispanics also did not fare well in comparison to the area’s non-Hispanic white population in terms of economic well-being and education.

The Friendship 7 hopes the study can further discussions and efforts to improve racial inequity in our community. The study may also provide valuable data to raise awareness and to secure grant dollars for projects focused on inequities. If you are interested in accessing or using the data to support a project that impacts area inequities, please email a brief description of your work to research@unitedwayncfl.org.

United Way will track use of the report data and share it with the sponsors.

You may download a copy of the disparity study by clicking the button below.